, john's played a central role in every major foreign policy debate for nearly 30 years. as we turn the page on a decade of war, he understands that we've got to harness all elements of american power and ensure that they're working together diplomatic and development, economic and political, military and intelligence, as well as the power of our values which inspire so many people around the world. as john has said, we are an exceptional nation not because we say we are, because we do exceptional things. and i'd say that one of the more exceptional things we've seen in recent decades was when john helped lead the way, along with folks like john mccain and others, to restore our diplomatic ties with vietnam. when he returned to the country where he and so many others had fought so long ago, it sent a powerful message of progress and of healing. over these many years, john's earned the respect and confidence of leaders around the world. he is not going to need a lot of on-the-job training. he has earned the respect and trust of his senate colleagues, democrats and republic